Southern Maryland Clinches Freedom Division With Victory
July 1, 2015 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Bridgeport Bluefish News Release
(Bridgeport, CT - July 1, 2015) - The Bridgeport Bluefish (24-41) fell to the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (38-27) 7-2 in seven innings at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard in the first game of a day/night doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon. With the victory, Southern Maryland has now clinched the Freedom Division crown in the first half of the Atlantic League's 2015 regular season.
Bridgeport Starting Pitcher Mark Rogers (3-5) suffered the loss in his Bluefish debut, pitching five innings, surrendering five runs on six hits, walking two, striking out three and allowing two home runs. Southern Maryland Starting Pitcher Brian Grening (3-4) picked up the win, tossing five innings, giving up one run on seven hits, walking two and striking out five.
Southern Maryland took the lead in the top half of the first inning off Rogers. Fred Lewis led off the game with a single, and right behind him was Casey Stevenson, who belted a two-run home run to right, and two batters into the ballgame the Blue Crabs had a 2-0 lead. It was the third roundtripper in 2015 for Stevenson. The Blue Crabs would add single runs in the second and third innings off Rogers to give them the early 4-0 edge.
Bridgeport cut the deficit to 4-1 in the third inning on a run scoring single by infielder Luis Antoino Rodriguez off Grening, bringing home catcher Luis Alberto Rodriguez, who led off the inning with a single. The base knock extended Luis Antonio Rodriguez's hitting streak to a season-high ten consecutive games, while also extending his on-base streak to fourteen consecutive games, matching his season-high set between April 25th and May 10th. Southern Maryland would get that run right back in the fourth inning on a solo homerun by Jake Opitz off Rogers, his sixth big fly of the season. The home run derby continued for the Blue Crabs in the top of the sixth inning, when catcher Craig Maddox blasted his third of the season off reliever Tim Gustafson, padding the lead to 7-1. Southern Maryland had five extra-base hits in the game (two doubles and three home runs). The 'Fish threatened in the seventh and final inning off reliever Orlando Santos. Welington Dotel laced an opposite-field RBI double with two outs, scoring Josh Prince to make it 7-2 in favor of the visitors. Dotel also had his league-leading sixth triple of the season in the fifth inning. That was as close as the 'Fish would get, as Matt Wessinger struck out swinging to end the game, and the celebration was on in the Southern Maryland clubhouse. Dotel and Jonathan Galvez led the way for Bridgeport with two hits each.
The Bluefish continue their series with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard on Wednesday, July 1st in the second game of the twin bill. First pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. The first 500 fans in attendance will receive a P.T. Barnum Bobblehead.
The Bridgeport Bluefish are members of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and play their home games at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard. For further information, call 203-210-BLUE (2583) or visit BridgeportBluefish.com.
Atlantic League Stories from July 1, 2015
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- Five Somerset Patriots Named Atlantic League All-Stars - Somerset Patriots
- 6 Revs Named to Atlantic League All-Star Game - York Revolution
- 2015 Atlantic League All-Stars Announced - Bridgeport Bluefish
- Southern Maryland Clinches Freedom Division With Victory - Bridgeport Bluefish
- Revs Community Fund Strives for New Level with Charitable Grants - York Revolution
- Blue Crabs Clinch Freedom Division with Victory - Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
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